An estimated 100 000 people converged on the Cape Town city centre yesterday to celebrate the bright and colourful Tweede Nuwe Jaar, which sees costumed troupes make their way from Darling Street up to the Bo-Kaap.
This celebration goes all the way back to the mid-19th century, as slaves in Cape Town were given a day off on January 2 to celebrate the new year.
“This year they’ve added a loop through the Parade, so they’re trying to do something a bit more creative. There will be more stands as well,” City of Cape Town Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said in an interview with CapeTalk.
The annual Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, January 4, 2020. #CapeTown #capetownminstrelcarnival #klopse #minstrels #dailylife #photojournalism #culturaltradition #tweedenuwejaar #capetownstreetparade #southafrica #shotoniphone #iphonography pic.twitter.com/0z6uPTLWDB
— Sumaya Hisham (@sumayahisham) January 4, 2020
And it’s a wrap…
#CapeTownStreetParade #TweedeNuweJaar pic.twitter.com/dNRzDZlJcd
— Mathetha Mokonyama (@MathethaM) January 4, 2020
Minstrels. Cape Town, 2019. The “Tweede Nuwe Jaar” (Second New Year) Cape Town Minstrels Parade. The celebration dates back to the time before slavery was abolished in the Cape colony, during which slaves were allowed to relax on the day following New Years Day. #photojour… pic.twitter.com/yCPfPv4DjE
— Marco Longari (@mlongari) January 4, 2020
Its a beautiful day #capetown #tweedenuwejaar #capeminstrals #kaapseklopse pic.twitter.com/EvpcaJjpAM
— Basheer Omardien (@the_bash_factor) January 4, 2020
Today is Tweede Nuwe Jaar in Cape Town. This celebration dates back to the mid-19th century when slaves were given one day off in the year. To celebrate, groups would dress up, dance and a parade from the District Six area through to the city centre. Honoured to be a witness ?? pic.twitter.com/kYgqYswfA7
— Rachel Colic (@rachelcolic) January 4, 2020
Picture: Sumaya Hisham/Twitter